EXHIBIT 5.1

                                 August 3, 1998

Transportation Components, Inc.
Three Riverway
Suite 630
Houston, TX 77056

Ladies and Gentlemen:

     We have acted as counsel to Transportation Components, Inc., a Delaware
Corporation (the "Company"), in connection with the preparation of its
Registration Statement on Form S-4 (the "Registration Statement") filed by the
Company under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act").
The Registration Statement relates to the offering and sale by the Company of up
to 10,000,000 shares of its common stock, par value $.01 per share (the "Common
Stock"), which the Company will issue and sell from time to time in connection
with business combinations.

     We have examined originals or copies of: (i) the Amended and Restated
Certificate of Incorporation of the Company, as amended, (ii) the Bylaws of the
Company, as amended; (iii) certain resolutions of the Board of Directors of the
Company; and (iv) such other documents and records as we have deemed necessary
and relevant for the purposes hereof. We have relied upon certificates of public
officials and officers of the Company as to certain matters of fact relating to
this opinion and have made such investigations of law as we have deemed
necessary and relevant as a basis hereof. We have not independently verified any
factual matter relating to this opinion. In such examination, we have assumed
the genuineness of all signatures, the authenticity of all documents,
certificates and records submitted to us as copies, and the conformity to
original documents, certificates and records of all documents, certificates and
records submitted to us as copies. We have also assumed that (i) the
Registration Statement, and any amendments thereto (including post-effective
amendments), will have become effective; (ii) all Common Stock will be issued
and sold in compliance with applicable federal and state securities laws and in
the manner stated in the Registration Statement and any appropriate prospectus
supplement.

     Based upon the foregoing, and subject to the limitations and assumptions
set forth herein, and having due regard for such legal considerations as we deem
relevant, we are of the opinion that:

          1.  The Company is a corporation duly incorporated, validly existing
     and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware.

          2.  The Common Stock is duly authorized, and when issued and delivered
     by the Company against payment therefor as described in the Registration
     Statement pursuant to Board authorization of the transactions contemplated
     by such Registration Statement, such shares will be duly and validly
     issued, fully paid and nonassessible.

     The foregoing opinion is based on and is limited to the laws of the State
of Delaware that pertain specifically to for-profit corporations, and we render
no opinion with respect to any other law.

     We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion with the Securities and
Exchange Commission as Exhibit 5 of the Registration Statement. By giving such
consent, we do not admit that we are included within the category of persons
whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act or the rules and
regulations issued thereunder.

                                          Very truly yours,
                                          Bracewell & Patterson, L.L.P.